Man Accused of Keeping Drugs, Paraphernalia Around Small Children

NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa - A 48-year-old North Liberty man was arrested Wednesday after officers found narcotics, drug paraphernalia and unsanitary conditions in the home where he lives with two small children.

Leon Wade Scott is being held in the Johnson County Jail on suspicion of eight charges, including five felonies, after police searched his mobile home at 122 Holiday Lodge Road on March 28.

During the search, investigators found in plain view multiple pipes for smoking methamphetamine and marijuana, according to a criminal complaint. They also found a "hidden compartment" in the floor of a bedroom that contained a "drug kit" with pills, marijuana, meth and paraphernalia like pipes and containers with meth and marijuana residue, North Liberty police reported.

A tote bag with dozens of broken meth pipes, burnt foil and other paraphernalia was found in the home, according to the criminal complaint.

While at the scene, police also found a mirror in the bedroom with "ice" meth on it as well as on the bed, according to the complaint.

A woman, known to be Scott's girlfriend, was in the home at the time of the search and said Scott was at work. She "admitted" to investigators that her two grandchildren – ages 2 ½ and 5 – live in the residence, police reported.

"Based on the dozens of pipes and the amount of discarded narcotics packaging, it's clear drug use has been occurring for a significant period of time," according to the criminal complaint. "The house is also littered with garbage and rotten food and is very unsanitary."

Scott's prior criminal history includes convictions for drug violations in March 2009, November 2009 and June 2011, according to police.